Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Urban Renewal, Cactus Wrens and Romas

The cactus wren condo in the palm trees that have been shading my plucky Roma tomatoes has been razed for fire control. The dried brown fronds that provided shade and shelter to six clutches of white-winged doves, cactus wrens and grackles bit the dust yesterday, when our landlord decided it was time to do a summer fire-control cleanup.

"Urban Renewal: Cactus Wren Condo" by Jack V. Sage June 13, 2012

When I rode up to the house after work and saw the palm fronds on the ground, I was relieved that we no longer had the fire hazard, but I thought my Roma tomatoes could not possibly have survived being buried under fifty or so pounds of palm fronds. Kudos to the landscapers for making sure my tomatoes stayed alive. They are a little wilted from getting too much sun, now that the palms no longer provide enough shade, but they can recover.

Roma tomato plants by Jack V. Sage, June 13, 2012

Roma plant A; Photo by Jack V. Sage June 13, 2012
Roma plant B; Photo by Jack V. Sage June 13, 2012

Roma plant C; Photo by Jack V. Sage June 13, 2012

The cactus wrens, grackles and white-winged doves have abandoned their condo for now, which means the infinite supply of bird droppings and palm fruits will no longer fertilize the soil. It won't matter this year, since the soil is fresh, but next year I will not plant anything here.

Here lie the remains of the Cactus Wren Condominium:

Photo by Jack V. Sage, June 13, 2012

Note the feathers and grass they used to line the cavities between the palm fronds. Below is another photo of the yard. I love the way the landscapers shaped the northernmost palm to look more like a pineapple.


Photo by Jack V. Sage, June 13, 2012




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